For those of you who have had the surgery already, how much pain were you in after? And how long did it last?

I experienced very little pain and after surgery took no pain medicine. I attribute some of this to exercise and the rest to a high level of pain tolerance. For several months prior to surgery, I walked for around 30 minutes per day religiously. Almost as soon as they brought me back to the room after surgery I was up and walking. I could not even tell when the anesthesia administered during surgery wore off.

Some people experience pain from surgery. But I think a muscle relaxer may benefit them more than pain medicine.

The only pain I had after coming home was when I went from laying down to sitting up. Not really pain, but a tightness at the incision sights. Didn't take any pain meds for it, and the pain away after about 5 days

My pain upon waking up from surgery really sucked. But I was soon on pain meds for about three days and had very little pain after that.

I virtually had zero pain, it was really a breeze. My pain tolarence is next to nothing so I was really worried before my surgery, but no pain at all.

Well it's definitely reassuring to know the pain is tolerable and doesn't last for very long. Thank you for your replies everyone! Much appreciated.

Just like @@James Marusek I had very little pain from the actual surgery. Same here with getting up and moving. I don't think I was in the room 20 minutes before I was up and walking. I remember my surgeon making several points about this during the seminar I attended. The only pain I had was the gas fro the anesthesia that was still in my body. Walking helps!! ALOT!! In fact, I had someone walk with me around the clock the first day/night ever 2 hours or so. I wanted to get out of the hospital after one day but I ended up staying 2 days. No pain meds for me either, except for the one dose right after surgery. Best of luck!!

It wasn't the pain that got to me in the hospital, but rather the nausea (which to me is infinitely worse). I was admitted on Thursday, discharged on Friday, and up walking 2 miles a day w/o pain meds on Sunday- all in all, pretty good I think